000 WTNT32 KNHC 171445 TCPAT2 BULLETIN HURRICANE RAFAEL ADVISORY NUMBER 20 NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL172012 1100 AM AST WED OCT 17 2012 ...RAFAEL HEADING FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC... ...FORECAST TO BECOME A POWERFUL EXTRATROPICAL CYCLONE LATER TODAY... SUMMARY OF 1100 AM AST...1500 UTC...INFORMATION ----------------------------------------------- LOCATION...37.5N 59.1W ABOUT 545 MI...875 KM SSE OF HALIFAX NOVA SCOTIA MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...75 MPH...120 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 30 DEGREES AT 35 MPH...56 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...975 MB...28.79 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- THERE ARE NO COASTAL WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT. DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK ------------------------------ AT 1100 AM AST...1500 UTC...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE RAFAEL WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 37.5 NORTH...LONGITUDE 59.1 WEST. RAFAEL IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHEAST NEAR 35 MPH...56 KM/H. A TURN TOWARD THE NORTHEAST WITH SOME INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED LATER TODAY. A TURN TOWARD THE EAST-NORTHEAST IS ANTICIPATED ON THURSDAY. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 75 MPH...120 KM/H...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. RAFAEL IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. RAFAEL IS FORECAST TO LOSE TROPICAL CHARACTERISTICS LATER TODAY...HOWEVER THE CYCLONE IS EXPECTED TO BECOME A STRONG EXTRATROPICAL LOW OVER THE NORTH ATLANTIC DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES...110 KM...FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 310 MILES...500 KM. THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 975 MB...28.79 INCHES. HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ---------------------- SURF...SWELLS GENERATED BY RAFAEL ARE EXPECTED TO AFFECT BERMUDA... EASTERN CANADA...AND PORTIONS OF THE UNITED STATES EAST COAST DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO. THESE SWELLS ARE LIKELY TO CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING SURF AND RIP CURRENTS. PLEASE CONSULT PRODUCTS FROM YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE. NEXT ADVISORY ------------- NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY...500 PM AST. $$ FORECASTER BROWN